Teeeitoey



(Model.)

J. E. BINGHAM.

HORSESHOE.

Patented Aug. 16, 1887.

llnirnn STATES ATnNr rricn.

JOHN E. BINGHAM, OF WVALLA WALLA, \VASHINGTON TERRITORY.

HORSESHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,507, dated August 16, 1887.

Application filed December 16, 1886. Serial No. 121,704. (ModeL) T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. BINeHArna citizen of the United States of America, residing at Walla'Walla, in the county of Walla WValla and Territory of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse and Mule Shoes, of which the following-is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in sectional horse and mule shoes; and it consists in the peculiar construction of the same, the details of which will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

The general objects of my invention are the same as have been set forth in former patents issued to me by the United States, numbered, respectively, 346,350, 346,351, 349,080, and 349,081; but the present-invention is designed to accomplish such objects in a superior manner, as will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of the hoofsnrface of a sectional horseshoe composed of three pieces, embodying the'prineiples of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a toesectiomshowing the construction as viewed on the ground-surface. Fig. 3 represents a perspective View of one of the side sections, showing the construction as viewed on the groundsurfaee, and indicates clearly the manner of joining the toe and side sections together. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the hoof-surface of one of the side sections, and shows the construction, particularly, of the lug it raised on the inner side of the piece near the heel to rest against the inside of the bar; Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate modifications in the manner of constructing the septum t.

Reference being had to the several parts in the drawings by the letters marked thereon, A represents a toe-section and B B represent side sections. The joints by which the toe and side sections arejoined are tenon-like projections 0 and d on the end of the side sections, which fit into corresponding mortises, e and f, constructed in the ends of the toe-section. The tongue (I on the end of the side section is formed on the ground-surface side of the piece and overlaps the part hof the toe-section; and in a similar but reversed manner the tonguec of the side section projects on the hoof-surface of the piece and slips underneath the part 9 of the toe-section. The septum i, which connects the parts (1 and h in the toe-section, fits lnto the slot j, which separates the tongues c and d in the side piece.

It is evident that the septum t and its cor responding slot,j, in the side section. may be omitted without materially departing from the principles of my invention; but the septum strengthens and improves the joint.

The septum may be made to extend only part Way on the toe-piece and the remainder of it on the side piece, as shown in Fig. 5 at i and j; or the middle portion of the septum may be formed as shown in Fig. 6 at z, the side section being made to conform to the modification.

The tongues c and d may be cut out on their contiguous sides, as indicated by the dotted lines op in Fig. 3, to any extent necessary to give thedesired movement at the heels.

The nature of the joint assists in the adjustment of the parts to the foot, as it permits the toe and side pieces to be slightly drawn apart in fitting the foot, and particularly in fitting the lug k to the bar of the foot.

7 n represent the nail-holes.

k is a lug raised upward and beveled in- Wardly from the inner side of the hoof-surface of each of the side sections near the heels, designed to fit inside the bar and heel in the natural crease which is formed between these parts and the frog of the foot.

In the old style of shoe made in one piece the heel portions of the shoe are kept in place by the rigidity of the shoe and no nails are used near the heels, nor is a lug, 7c, needed. In action the heel portion of the horses foot expands and retracts considerably at the heels at each step, and does so when shod in the old way, if the shoe is not nailed near the heels, and in so doing the sole slips or rubs upon the upper surface of the shoe, the shoe being rigid. This rubbing is hurtful to the foot, and yet to prevent this expansion and rubbing by securely nailing the heels to the rigid shoe is even more harmful; hence a need for asectional shoe which can be attached securely to the hoof at the heels and still allow the foot to expand and retract and perform all its functions and movements, the shoe merely protecting it from undue wear.

From practical experience I have found that the foot expands the most at the heels and along the sides at the moment the foot comes in contact with the ground, and that immediately after the blow is delivered and while the shoe is fastened down between the hoof and the ground by the weight of the animal a partial retraction of the expanded parts takes place, which tends to split 0d the crust of the hoof where the nails secure the side section to it, the crust of the hoof being thin at that point and the nails having but little hold to resist this outward strain. The septum z, or, if it is omitted, the side of the part h, in conjunction with the tongues c and d, secures the forward end of the side section against lateral strains upon the nails, either outward or inward. At the heel end of the side sections the lug k rests against the inside of the bar of the foot, and

when retraction takes place, as described,

the lug Io relieves the nails from this strain and brings the side section of the shoe in with the hoof. The nails co operating, securely hold the side section against the sole of the foot and the lug 70 against the bar, for which purpose the nails have great strength and a strong hold. The nails hold the side section down, so as to effectually prevent the side section twisting or rolling inwardly under the foot, as to move thus would draw the nails out longitudinally.

The tongue 0, projecting underneath the part 9 of the toe-section, assisted by the other parts of the joint, effectually prevents the side section twisting or turning outwardly under the foot, against which movement it will be seen the nails in the side section would exert but little resistance. The lug 7c is especially useful in this shoe as a means of attaching and keeping the heel-section upon the hoof, and acts in conjunction with the nails,the movable connection, and the tongue 0, and which prevent the side section twisting or rolling off outwardly, which movement would raise the lug k up and release it. The toe-section is securely attached by nails at the toe, where the hoof affords very thick and strong horn for the nail to engage with. The nature of the joint allows this extension of the shoe with the growth as well as the movements at the heel parts when in action, all the while maintaining the integrity of the connection between the toe and the side sections.

A nail-hole may be constructed as shown by the dotted lines at q, as in some cases it is desirable to have a nail-hole pass through the tongue d and part h-as, forinstance,where the t0e-section is but slightly curved and might be inclined to tilt forward when a severe strain is placed upon the front edge.

The raised projections .10 or (shown in Fig. 4) are an additional means I employ to keep the side sections from slipping outwardly. Sometimes the foot is in such condition that the lug It cannot be successfully used, and sometimes the work produces such severe strain upon the lug has would break it, and it becomes necessary to employ additional means to assist it-as, for instance, when heavy horses are em ployed to draw heavy loads at a run upon city stone pavements. In such and similar cases I employ the raised projections w. (Shown in Fig. 4.) They are chisel-shaped projections upon the hoof-surface of the side sections, raised about one-sixteenth to one-eighth inch, and are designed to penetrate the sole, bars, and crust of the hoof when the section is nailed on. They assist in a manner similar to the lug 7c, and, in conjunction with it, the nails and the tongue 0 keep the section in place upon the foot.

The projections may be made upon the sections by casting or stamping, in the course of the manufacture of the sections, or by hand with a chisel and hammer.

The most of the projections should be made with the vertical face toward the outer border of the shoe, and the remainder the opposite way.

While it is apparent that the shoe can be made in the ordinary manner and specially shaped and fitted to suit each particular foot to which it is applied, still Idesign and prefer to manufacture it as is described in my abovementioned Patent No. 346,350. The sections can most readily be formed by casting in malleable iron or steel or by drop-forging. It is also apparent that a variety of styles of shoes may be made, and the number of parts or sections constituting the shoe may be increased, without departing from the principles of my invention. I have illustrated aplain or smooth shoe; but rough shoes and shoes with calks and of many different styles and suited for differentkinds of work can also be made in accordance with my invention. In practice I have found that the tendency is for the side sections to twist outwardly, and I have found it very advantageous to bevel the outer sides of the side sections along the quarters inwardly, from the hooftoward the ground, asindicated in Fig. 4, from S to T.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a horseshoe, the combination of a toepiece formed at its ends with mortises e f, constituted by the parts 9 and h and connectingseptum i, the side pieces formed at their corresponding ends with tongues c and d, and an intervening slot, j, into which the septum is received, substantially as described.

2. In a horseshoe, the combination of a toe piece formed at its ends with mortises e and f and tongue g and h, the side pieces formed at their corresponding ends with similar tongues and mortises designed to fit each other, in the manner and for the purpose described.'

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. BINGHAM.

' Witnesses:

EDWARD W. BINGIIAM, A. R. COLEMAN. 

